IMC on CPEC, Gwadar Port concludes

A two-day International Maritime Conference (IMC) on CPEC and Gwadar Port concluded at Gwadar Wednesday. The conference was organised under the auspices of Pakistan Navy in co-ordination with Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform and Parliamentary Committee on CPEC. IMC, under the theme 'CPEC & Gwadar Port as Harbinger of Regional Integration and Maritime Economic Development', was aimed at examining the politico-strategic, maritime economic and security dimensions of the CPEC project and the challenges and opportunities arising in the economic domain from its implementation.
The opening session of the day, under the theme of Maritime Security, commenced with the keynote address by Professor Xu Ming; Executive Director Glorious Sun Institute of Management - Donghua University. Professor Xu Ming said that CPEC is a great strategic design, which will greatly benefit both Pakistan and China. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Khan Hasham Bin Siddique chaired the Opening session as Moderator.
Andrew Small, Senior trans-Atlantic Fellow, while presenting paper on CPEC-Emerging security paradigm in the Indian Ocean, said that CPEC is unique in a sense that it is a power settler in the region, thus, shall be accessible to all states and one should refrain counter-productive competition.
Vice Admiral Asaf Humayon (Retd) spoke on CPEC - Importance of Maritime Security and Role of Pakistan Navy. He said that keeping in view the enhanced spectrum of threats due to hybrid warfare by adversaries, there is a dire need to augment the capabilities of Pakistan Navy and Maritime Security Agency to fulfil the needs of a multilayered defence system for an effective seaward defence of CPEC and Gwadar Port. 'Pakistan Navy also needs to enhance interaction with PLA Navy as well as a full-fledge naval base at Gwadar is inevitable', He underlined.
Vice Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Rao (Retd), while presenting last paper of the session on 'Geo Politics and Maritime Security: changing dynamics of North Arabian Sea', said that Gwadar is the nucleus of all the big game 'One Belt One Road (OBOR)'. He said that CPEC will be just an extension of KKH without Gwadar Port, as it's the sea part which makes CPEC global. Therefore, the traditional mentality that land outweighs sea must be abandoned.
Senator Mushahid Hussein Sayed in the closing session emphasised that Gwadar is the hub and centre piece of CPEC and it's the way forward for Pakistan in the 21st century. He added that Gwadar and Chahbahar are sister ports, there has to be road and rail connectivity between the two countries.
He concluded his address saying that Pakistan Navy's role in maritime security and CPEC is pivotal and there is a need for policy making on maritime economy. He also complimented Pakistan Navy on rising of dedicated 'Task Force 88' for maritime security of CPEC, holding and pushing out of Indian Submarine from Pakistan's EEZ and extension of Continental Shelf, being significant achievements. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah thanked all the participants, speakers and foreign dignitaries for making the conference a success and achieving objectives set forth in raising awareness and making recommendations for the way forward.-PR